Baby Steps VS Giant Steps

As much as I want to take giant steps forward with everything in my life, there just isn't enough time/energy to go around. so now I take baby steps some days, and some days I pick and choose-and take giant steps on 1 or 2 things. It's nice to know my limitations, and not stress about what I am NOT doing.

I looked at my life at the beginning of January and thought maybe I was wasting too much time because I just didn't seem to be getting enough done in a day. (and I don't even watch much t.v.!)

I did a time tracker test to see what I was doing with my time, and was surprised to see how unorganized I was.

I didn't want to end each day feeling defeated, deflated and discouraged over what I hadn't gotten to that day (and every day)

(with EP always at the back of my mind, I didn't see how I could get aroundtuit and accomplish some of those things on my EP list, if I couldn't even get done all I wanted/needed from my daily list!)

-I've tried so many different things: prioritizing my list, cutting out unnecessaries (it's all necessary!), ignoring it, hoping it will all just go away......!

Different things work at different times. What's working for me now is spending time and effort to get my life (aka: house) in order. I am the homemaker. I am the creator of organization in our family.

I spent 3 weeks tearing the house apart to get rid of clutter. (The clutter was creating chaos and making my job as homemaker so much more difficult. The clutter was cluttering up my head!)

The process of decluttering was therapeutic for me (even though the mess it made in the process was horrible!) -It had to get worse to get better!

Now that the clutter is gone, my homemaking efforts are streamlined -- I can be done with the necessary everyday chores, and get on to the real purpose in life:

reading my fashion mags, eating bon bons, and watching the soaps! (just kidding!!! that's my next life!- only- if you want to get technical, it's: reading Jane Austin, eating M&M's and watching Once Upon A Time)

The point is: less time spent on my daily chores means more time for fitting in other things - like emergency preparedness. (and maybe a scrapbook page or 2. hey - I can always hope!)

Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.

Art Buchwald

This is the beginning of a new day.

God has given me this day to use as I will.

I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is important, because

I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes,

this day will be gone forever,

leaving in its place something

that I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss;

good not evil; success not failure;

in order that I shall not regret

the price I paid for it.

Author Unknown

I'm putting that round tuit in my pocket to remind me to 'get er done' today.

Today- March 10, 2012 I want to add some thoughts to this subject of time. I had an epiphany the other day: I have been saying for years "I don't have enough time!" (mostly in an exasperated voice) I now realize why I don't have enough time - because I have been putting out there to the universe the thought I don't have enough time, so, sure enough, it is true.

You may not agree with this philosophy - my husband doesn't agree with it, but, I have seen evidence of it, so I believe it. Whether it happens because I think it, or I think it because it happens, I don't care. I just like that it works for me.

The point is - I will no long be saying "I don't have enough time" ever again. (either in my head or out loud)

My new mantra is: I have all the time in the world. and I choose to do_______ with my time.

It's not that I don't have time for ____ or _____. I choose not to do it.

For instance: no longer will I say "I don't have time to exercise."

I have to say "I choose not to exercise." -which really is a true statement, whatever excuses I've wanted to give in the past for not doing it. Now the truth is out there.

another thought:

I know our lives are dictated by our children/husband/job BUT we still choose whether to do emergency preparedness or not. (we just may have to give up something else - sleep? - to do it.)

as for me - I have all the time in the world!

You Know You're A Prepper Diva if.....

Originally Posted by naturegirlmia

You know you're a Prepper Diva If:

- All of your bottled water has Perrier labels.
- Your hiking boots have stiletto heels (you figure they can always double as weapons).
- You forego all other guns for a tiny "lady's pistol..." with rhinestone "bling" on the barrel, because it's just sooooooooo cute.

- Your emergency toiletries include tooth whitening strips, hairspray, 3 shades of nail polish, an eyelash curler, and a curling iron.
- Your climate control storage unit is dedicated to jumbo-sized bottles of your favorite cologne, because you can ALWAYS eat OUT, if the DHTF. (dirt hits the fan)

- You aren't sure if we are heading towards global warming or another ice age, so you've packed both a string bikini and the most darling little Snow Bunny ski outfit, in your gear.- you're kind of hoping it's the global warming, because you aren't sure if you'll be able to find a place to get a spray tan, if the DHTF.

- You have a chauffeur for your BOV.

- You love the fact that your survival kit included a mirror... how ELSE could you put your contact lenses in?

have a great day!!!!

Important Papers

I was thinking about the EP notebook and how much fun it would be to scrapbook a cover for it. (well, if you are a non-scrapper then it wouldn't be fun) but I like scrapbooking.

One cover I did scrapbook was my important papers notebook. I have a binder with all our important papers in it. It took me a long time to get this binder together. I thought about it for a long time - it kept nagging at me in the back of my mind, until finally I did it. I was worried that something would happen before I got it together, but since I've done it, I feel a lot better.

In my binder I have:

a list of everyone in our family, in Jim's family and in my family with addresses & phone #'s- everyone we would want to contact to see if they were ok in the event of a disaster.

then I have a section for each of us - me, my husband, and each kid. the first page is a picture of them. then their birth certificate. then marriage certificate, then I have all their church records: blessing, baptism, ordinations, patriarchal blessings (some of these are copies - I've scrapbooked the originals) passport information, social security #'s. I have all our car titles in there.

(Since all this important information is all right there together, I've thought about - what if someone gets ahold of this information and uses it for unsavory purposes like stealing our identity or stealing money from us? but I don't really worry about that. Who's going to steal an old notebook out of my closet?)

Now that I've gotten it out and looked at it, I see I need to update it. (the picture of my daughter as a teen-ager in fairy wings needs to be updated to her and her husband!) and add more things - like bank records, insurance, stuff like that. I'm glad I got it out and looked at it.

All the pages are in sheet protectors in an old school binder case - it zips closed, so that no papers can fall out. It is pretty bulky and a little heavy. If I had to bug out, I don't know if I would take it with me. It depends on where we are going, how we are going (walking?), and if we think we would be coming back. If the world was in total chaos, and we are going for good, I don't know that I would need all that information. But, it's nice to have it all in one place, if we needed it.

another advantage is that it is in my closet a few steps from the front door. If we had a fire, it would be easy to save those papers. (as opposed to the file cabinet upstairs, where we used to keep the papers)

ok - this is my next project in my EP workout: update my important papers.

(BTW - the EP notebook and the important papers binder are 2 separate notebooks.)

EP NOTEBOOK

I want to share about my EP notebook but first I want to comment on my list of 5 things I cannot do without. I thought to myself- How shallow it seems that scriptures are not on my list. They are a given that I cannot do without them (like food and water) - I have a set in my 72 hour kit and several sets all over the house.

What I really cannot do without and shall go thru major withdrawal, if i ever lose it, is my ipod. (lose as in there is no way to charge it back up) I have scriptures on there both audio and visual. I listen to the Mormon Channel every nite and would miss it if it were gone. The Mormon Channel is the most awesome thing in the world!!! Scriptures, conference talks, series such as Enduring It Well, All Things Creative, interviews of people by Sheri Dew - just tons of interesting stuff!!!!

"I love technology; but not as much as you, you see. I love technology...."

Now, about my EP notebook. I got a 3 ring binder so that I could collect information. Here is the cover of my notebook: (If you can't have fun with something, it's not worth doing)

It's a reminder that I can't put this off forever!- and the ARK reference is obvious.

I put dividers in it for each section. This is how I keep track of information. and there is soooo much information out there! It can be confusing wading thru all the information! But I know it's important to know how to do stuff - to know how to prepare, what to prepare, and how to survive. Some things are important to know now, and some things will be important to know if the need arises - so I want a notebook that will tell me everything I need to know. one geared just for me and my family and our needs, etc.

here are the divided sections:

72 Hour Bug Out Kits

Water

Food Storage Short Term
Food Storage Long Term

Recipes (gee- why is this one still empty? - maybe because I don't like to cook?)

First Aid

Disasters

Stress Survival

Prophesies of the Last Days

This notebook is not only for me, it is for my children and grandchildren. If they are left to survive on their own, they will have a greater chance of surviving, with the help of the information I have collected. Knowledge is power. I want them to have that power to survive.

Our church had a meeting recently where all the youth and adults were meeting together and the subject was emergency preparedness. One of the youth said (as he rolled his eyes) "I don't know why we have to learn this all this stuff!"

The instructor replied "Because all us old people will be dead, and you guys are going to have to know how to survive."

We all laughed, but I thought about it - it may be true that my kids have to "go it alone"

Pre-teens and teens are capable of carrying out what they need to to survive, but the survival skills we are trying to teach them seem so boring and useless to them.

I was talking to two teens before the meeting and they both did not see the value of attending the meeting. I said "How are you going to know what to do in case of emergency? Do you know what to do?"

One said "No, but I have a plan in case of a zombie attack!" and he proceeded to tell me, then the other joined in. They both got very animated as they told me their plan against a zombie attack. They had thought this thru. It involved guns from Walmart and supplies from Costco. Of course we all know guns are useless against zombies, and the Costcos will be wiped clean in 5 minutes. I think they need a back-up plan.

The point is, most teens are not going to be receptive to emergency plans for the future, until/unless they need the information right then. Of course, right then, it is too late to Google how to survive the__________ (fill in the blank) - because most likely there will be no Google to google. (no amount of "I should have listened to mom" is going to help them, either)

If there is a "how to" guide that I have created, then my kids will be able to survive.

Maybe the best scenario is to teach our kids when they are young and receptive. Doing it without scaring them is tricky. But kids listen to us better and have better attitudes before they hit puberty.

I don't know - I only have teen boys left, and they cover their ears whenever we bring it up at the dinner table. "Do you guys have to talk about the end of the world, again??!!!" they moan.

yes - I do, because I love you!

Prima Donna

O.K. I wondered if Diva was the right name for me. I Googled the definition.:

an unusually glamorous personality, Italian for goddess; see Prima Donna-a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team.

Yep! That's me all right!!!

I am so excited about this blog! I think this will really help me get organized with my EP. (I refer to emergency preparedness as EP)

I really had a great time setting up the background - thank you scrapgirls and DSE (digital scrapbooking experts) for the great embellishments!

BTW, If you are a serious prepper looking for more information about emergency preparedness you are reading the wrong blog!!!!!

I will get there with the best information I can find, and post it here, but it will be in a round-about way. I have a creative mind that easily gets sidetracked.

This is why it has been so hard for me in learning about emergency preparedness:

1- there is just so much information out there (the WWW is a vast place! A person can get lost exploring it's multilayered regions!)

2-it's just so BOR-ING!

I wish I didn't have to think about EP, but for the smart ones, it is a serious fact of life.

It just might save our lives.

I don't want my kids/grandkids, or even myself to say "Why didn't you do something to prepare when you had the chance?"

so - I will. I must.

first an inventory of what I've got:

a years supply of beans, rice, assorted other #10 cans. check.

water. check. - in barrels and lately in 2 liter soda bottles and juice bottles. the bottles are collecting under a table in the tv room. I just put a tablecloth over the table to hide the bottles. I really believe that here in the desert you cannot have too much water. I know that we would die without water faster than we would die without food. and I need water to cook the beans and rice.

A freezer full of meat. If the freezer goes out, I'm in big trouble! I would need to do something to keep the meat from spoiling. I know it's better to have it bottled. (One of the things on my to do list?) I've thought about drying meat - making jerky? -need to add that to my list of things to know how to do.

Here's my list of things I want to learn how to do: (hmmm - thought my list was longer)

make bread without a bread machine and oven

make yogurt

sprout wheat and other grains

make jerky

make homemade cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup

wow - that sounds like pioneer stuff!!!!

I always said that God knew I needed to be born when there were so many modern conveniences because I can't cook without a can, or do laundry without a washing machine. Believe me, I'm truly grateful for what I have in my life that makes my life so easy. (not that raising 9 kids was easy - but it was even harder for our ancestors)

-Although we (all of us) have had our own unique challenges in raising our kids in today's icky society.

I remember something my sister's friend said one time - I've never forgotten it:

"Our ancestors had to fight to save their family's physical lives, we have to fight to save our family's spiritual lives!"

So - now, we may have to do both!!!!!

are we up to it? am I up to the challenge? YES!

BTW - I know that there are those out there who already know this stuff and are doing this stuff. -Posting me all your ideas and suggestions may just overwhelm me and make my head explode! I need to figure out a place for the posting of ideas/information so that I can look at it when I want to.

what I'd really like to see posted are your feelings.

My thoughts. Questions. Lots of questions.

This is my first blog.
I want to become a fully funtioning survivalist. a prepper. I hope to be able to explore, share, and prepare.
When I woke up to the fact that I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was, I started asking myself questions:
If I put together a 72 Hour Kit myself, will it cost me more than if I just bought one?
Do I really need a 72 Hour Kit for everyone in my family? I have 9 kids, for crying out loud!
How can I rotate the food in our 72 Hour Kits when I have trouble keeping up with daily life? (I put it on my list of things to do, but it never gets checked off the list! It just doesn't seem as urgent as getting kids to soccer)
Will I be able to give my family a balanced diet on food storage?
What about fresh fruits and vegetables, especially salad?
Is it possible to have a year supply of Lucky Charms cereal?
What happens when I start going thru chocolate withdrawal?
Is it possible to have a 2 year supply of chocolate? (cocoa just isn't the same)
How do I make a 2 year supply of chocolate last more than 1 year?
I have all this wheat, what do I do with it?
How do I make bread without an oven?
How do I make bread without a wheat grinder?
For that matter - how do I make bread?
Do I have a non-electric can opener?
How do I know if I have everything I need for my family to survive long term?
What happens when we've eaten all the good stuff, and all there is left is wheat and beans- and my kids don't like wheat and beans?
If we have to bug out, what about my scrapbooks? And what is bugging out, anyway? If it has to do with bugs, I'm not going!
How will I be able to deal with living in a tent, when I can only stand 3 days of camping, and then I want to go home and sleep in my own bed?
How am I going to have time to prepare for the future, when I can't even get dinner made in the present?
How much do I rely on the Lord, and how much do I prepare?
How can I prepare for every possible situation?
How do I know what to prepare for?
What if I do all this work, and spend all this money, and nothing ever happens?
What if I don't prepare because I never get around to it, and something happens?
What if I do all this work, and spend all this money, and it saves our lives?

these were just some random questions that I had in my head.

List 5 things you can't do without:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

(not including the obvious- food, water, etc. And one of them cannot be electricity - you will have to do without that!)

Here is my list (in equal order)
1. chocolate
2. my ear medicine and q-tips (I have a chronic ear problem)
3. books
4. some sort of craft
5. manicure set/make-up

my future posts will be all about how I prepare as I juggle daily living.